University Of California-Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz admits 62.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 5 in 8 applicants receive offers of admission. This places the university in the Moderately Selective range, making it more accessible than highly competitive UC campuses while maintaining academic standards.

The peer median admission rate of 78.1% indicates UC Santa Cruz is more selective than typical four-year institutions by approximately 15.6 percentage points. This selectivity level reflects the university's position within the UC system as both academically rigorous and relatively accessible compared to flagship campuses.

For prospective students, this admission rate suggests that strong academic preparation is important, but perfect credentials are not required. Students should view UC Santa Cruz as a target school if their academic profile aligns with typical UC standards, while building balanced college lists that include both more and less selective options.

The university's commitment to access, evidenced by substantial Pell and first-generation enrollment, indicates that academic potential rather than just prior achievement plays a role in admission decisions. This selectivity pattern supports students seeking quality education without the extreme competitiveness of the most selective UC campuses.

UC Santa Cruz publishes a cost of attendance of $38,649 per year, including $14,560 in-state tuition, $18,785 for room and board, and $1,315 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays just $16,607 after financial aid, representing savings of $22,042 from the published price.

This net price places UC Santa Cruz slightly above the peer median of $15,590, though the $1,017 difference remains modest. The university's net pricing reflects California's approach to public higher education funding, where substantial aid reduces costs for many students.

Out-of-state students face significantly higher published tuition of $45,337, though financial aid may reduce actual costs. The gap between published and net prices demonstrates the importance of completing financial aid applications, as most students pay substantially less than advertised costs.

Net price variation by family income shows progressive pricing that targets aid toward lower-income families. Students should focus on net price rather than published costs when evaluating affordability, as the average savings of more than $22,000 substantially changes the financial equation for most families.

UC Santa Cruz graduates demonstrate steady earnings progression throughout their early to mid-career period. Median earnings rise from $49,716 six years after enrollment to $59,302 at eight years and $68,396 at ten years, representing 37.6% growth from the six-year mark to the ten-year mark.

These outcomes reflect data from substantial cohorts of 4,047 graduates at six years, 4,747 at eight years, and 4,337 at ten years, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $1,681 above expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing UC Santa Cruz in the 62.5th percentile for earnings beyond expectations.

This uplift reflects the institution's effectiveness in translating educational access into economic advancement. Low-income graduates earn $51,900, demonstrating solid outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds.

Earnings span from $41,808 at the 25th percentile to $102,779 at the 75th percentile, showing meaningful variation based on program choice and career trajectory. Approximately 25.3% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education pathways.

UC Santa Cruz offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for comprehensive outcome analysis. Computer Science ranks #31 nationally and #10 in California, producing 667 graduates with median earnings of $101,953 and a strong value score of 83.6, making it the institution's largest program by enrollment share at 12.5%.

Business/Managerial Economics ranks #4 nationally and #1 in California, graduating 308 students with median earnings of $78,567 and an exceptional value score of 93.9. Anatomy ranks #1 nationally with the highest possible value score of 100.0, graduating 341 students with median earnings of $60,883.

Psychology, General ranks #43 nationally and #9 in California as the second-largest program with 514 graduates earning $48,247. Applied/Public Sociology ranks #22 nationally and #11 in California, graduating 251 students with earnings of $47,904 and a value score of 91.4.

Environmental Science ranks #20 nationally and #13 in California, reflecting UC Santa Cruz's strength in sustainability-focused programs with 246 graduates earning $49,828.